The Turner Tattler

I AM 2

2012-02-15T22:58:00.000-09:00

I know I have more kids than Sutton, but right now, she is pretty interesting...so here is another post about her.

She is 2 in every since of the word...or number.

She is more strong-willed and more vocal of her wants than Ella or Olivia ever were.

It was apparent since birth that she was going to be the one to pitch fits...I was right. And since birth, when she started pitching her fit, I had to wait it out. There was no calming her in anyway. I would lay her down, let her scream, and when she was finished, I would feed, change or comfort her (comma over load in that last sentence).

In her 2 year old moments, you have to do the same. Here she wanted me to put her on the counter top while I cooked, but I was finished. I told her that I was finished, and I was going into the living room.

She didn't like that, so she ever so gently (seriously, she gently lays down) she lies on the floor.

*Side note: I hope I got the correct form of "lie" in the last sentence correct...I always got it wrong in school. And why I am so obsessed with my grammar tonight, I don't know.

She cried and screamed, hit at me and told me "NO!" many times.

I walked away.

She had her fit.

And then she admired her newly painted nails.

She was there for several minutes....just a lookin' away.

Even though she tries me more than the others...she is still stinkin' cute!!

I am pretty sure she will be my first to tell me she hates me when she is older.

Big Girl Bed

2012-02-12T23:14:00.001-09:00

This weekend, Sutton Grace got a big girl bed! It was my idea, she would stay in her crib forever if I let her. But we are going to be full force in the potty training soon (we started awhile back, but she cried for 3 days every time she sat on the potty, so we stopped). I need her to be able to get out of the bed to let me know she needs to go to the bathroom at night.

I took the mattress off the guest bed (our old bed).

It is low enough to keep her from hurting herself if she rolls off...she rolls around so much!

I took the time to take some pictures of her.

She loves her new bed.

She loves Elmo.

She loves her Cinderella dress....she has worn it for 2 days and 1 night.

The search and find books can keep her occupied for hours.

Remember Where's Waldo? Do they still have those? I need to find some!

She was so nice and shared the bed and book with Campbell...ok...ok...I had to break up a fight, and take Campbell off the bed.

She sleeps just fine in her bed...she doesn't get out of it constantly...for now...

Almost Famous

2012-02-09T20:00:00.002-09:00

We get this little magazine at our home once a month. JT loves it and so does Sutton...it is good potty training material...she reads while she waits.

JT has submitted month after month his catch, and month after month, he waits.

He finally got in!

He has been in more magazine, newspapers and on more television than anyone I personally know.

Stay tuned for an issue with Ella and Olivia...

The Big Girls

2012-02-08T23:28:00.000-09:00

It is hard to believe that my once little girls are now big girls.

Sutton and Campbell are the little girls now...and probably will forever be called that...and they will hate it. Anyways...

I can't believe it has been 7 1/2 years since I became a mommy and I can't believe that I ever wanted to be anything other than their mommy.

I am reminded everyday how big they are, but still so young. I hope that as they grow, they can still maintain some sort of innocence.

In another 7 1/2 years, Ella will be getting her permit, and Olivia will be a teenager.

7 1/2 years after that, Ella or Olivia could be telling me they want to marry the boy they are dating...OH jeez...I am not ready for that!

Side story: Ella was eating tuna, and she asked if it was healthy (she is on a real health kick). I said yes, except too much is not good when you have a baby in your belly. Then I told her she didn't have to worry about that until she is atleast 50. She said "Yes, when I am old. Wait, Mom, how old are you?"

I love my big girls!

Blizzard of 2012

2012-02-05T01:04:00.000-09:00

OK..Ok...to call it a blizzard would be exaggerating a bit. BUT we did get a lot of snow and some winds...so we will call it blizzard LIKE conditions.

There is a quote I have seen on Pinterest a lot that says, "Cleaning the house while kids are there, is like shoveling snow while it is still snowing." or something to that effect.

I know people would say "Amen" to that, but not me...or most anyone else that lives in a snowy area.

Shoveling snow while it is still snowing has is benefits. You may have to shovel more than once, but it is a lot easier to shovel a few inches compared to a couple of feet.

With snow, you don't know when it will stop...with kids, they go to bed at some point.

So get out there and shovel that snow!

I put on my snow gear...shoes, buff and gloves...and headed out to shovel the snow while it was still snowing. When I got one area cleared, I would turn around and it would be covered again.

My knight in shining armor...or green GLoomis sweat shirt, came to save me. We managed to hold on to a snow blower that belongs to someone else, which he operated. I, however, did it the old-fashioned way...with a shovel...not because I am afraid of the big snow blower or anything...

He was tired...and in a lot of pain.

This is me, super excited that we shoveled the 7 or so inches that had already fallen...or I was excited just to spend a little bit of time with my husband...or that I had help...or that I broke a sweat, which means a good work out...or all of the above.

I so look like I have a lazy eye...I don't...or atleast if I do, I haven't noticed it in 30 years (almost 30 years).

The snow finally let up...reports say we got about 15 inches of snow! I am glad we cleared out some of it when we did. 15 inches is no joke.

Later that night we braved that blizzard and went to the girl's ballet and tumbling recital.

No, you crazy southerners it wasn't canceled....and yes, this crazy southerner wished it was.

That was probably one of the scariest drives EVER in Alaska!

Attack!

2012-02-03T00:36:00.000-09:00

She read while her Daddy was planning an attack...

Then Mom (the fun killer), makes him stop and her go back to reading.

The fact that Ella is reading, is a miracle! We have struggled with this for a long time. She still doesn't like it, because it is still hard for her. But she can sound out almost anything...I am very proud of her for trying so hard even though it is very frustrating.

No Words...Just Campbell

2012-01-31T20:22:00.002-09:00

Planking Above Zero

2012-01-30T23:58:00.000-09:00

Well, the temps are in the teens (really close to 20 degrees...yay!!).

When the temps get really close to 20...the grill gets fired up.

I love our grill, it has a gas side, a charcoal side, and a smoker.

Grilling is so much a part of what we do as a family.

Like the amount of snow on the grill? Can you believe that a good bit of that melted earlier in the season?

I can't wait til summer when we grill most every night.

When JT was deployed, I would get so sad when I would smell someone grilling. It was just another reminder that he wasn't here.

JT got cedar planks for Christmas. We really wanted to try fish on them.

This is halibut with some southwestern chipotle seasoning.

YUM!!

The plank gave it a nice smokey flavor all through out the meat.

I am thinking salmon for the next one.

Frozen

2012-01-30T14:06:00.001-09:00

The temps haven't been too bad (as cold as they were), but we we're on our way to having the coldest January on record. Things have "warmed" up a little today.

Yesterday, however, we went to go to the store and the doors in the van were frozen shut! We couldn't open them at all. JT bought some de-icer and that didn't help. So, he took it to a friend's garage (because ours has way too much stuff in it) parked it in there for a few minutes to thaw out the door....they now open.

Remember when I wrote about the seal in our window being broken? We had maintenance out to the house, and they said there was nothing they could do til summer.

Bummer!

So, until then, our heat is cranked way up.

But because of the broken seal, it is allowing the concrete the pipes are in to cool down.

And late last night, JT walked into the garage to a flood.

We also had water in the basement.

The clean up is not fun!

Too Fast

2012-01-27T22:52:00.000-09:00

Can someone please tell my baby to slow down?

Remember this post?

She did this today without help. She is still not fully crawling. Is she just going to skip straight to walking?

I wouldn't let her go any higher.

Eczema Monster

2012-01-24T22:43:00.000-09:00

My youngest 2 have eczema. Sutton's has gotten progressively worse as she gets older. It only appears in the winter when temps dip down close to 20 degrees and lower.

75% of the children born in Alaska have some sort of skin disease.

When she has a flare up, she is not allowed to go outside and play. It makes it worse. And right now, I am having trouble controlling the newest flare up.

It is sad really. I want my kids to run and play outside. We love to be outside so much. But when her skins gets so raw and she wants to be cuddled, but it hurts so bad she does nothing but cry...I must keep her in.

Uh-oh!

I got caught taking her picture...she isn't happy about that! ;)

Snow and Sunshine

2012-01-24T00:10:00.000-09:00

I have to beg my kids to take pictures now. It is so sad.

But it was BEAUTIFUL...the kind of beautiful that makes me thankful the army moved us up here. The kind of beautiful that makes me think this is what heaven is like. I just had to be outside and I wanted my kids with me....only 2 came.

Alaska is unique in that the light is not always good and in the winter, it will change drastically in 5 minutes. I want to learn how to take pictures in snow. I also want to learn what to do in harsh light, because in the summer, we have mostly harsh light.

So, instead of doing a lot of reading and getting completely lost in blog after blog about light and photography...I experiment.

Thankfully, Ella agreed to come with me when she found out we were going to the park...a park that is completely under snow....but she didn't have to know that.

She likes to pose, and I have given up on getting her not too. It is her personality, and I want to remember that.

She stole my buff too!

Sutton Grace wasn't so sure about it all. She stayed very close to me.

You could barely see where you were walking because everything is white.

It was -7 outside.

Mom and Grandmom, don't get on to me for not having hats and gloves on my kids.

I just wanted them to run around for a minute...let me snap a few shots with a lens I hardly use. It needed exercise too.

After 5 minutes, Sutton Grace squatted by the car...we were done.

Sutton Grace-The Child That Wasn't Suppose to Be

2012-01-22T05:00:00.001-09:00

*Disclaimer: I love all my children equally, but I love them differently. They each have very special reasons why they are special to me. This is Sutton's story.

I adore Sutton!

I look at her and joy fills my heart.

Sutton wasn't suppose to be born...at least in my world. Before she was conceived, I was pregnant with another child...a child I lost.

After that painful loss, I planned for no more children. I started giving away everything. My heart couldn't take the chance of losing another child.

No more kids for me.

But God had a different plan.

He knew what I needed.

There was no bonding during pregnancy...I couldn't even look at the ultrasound pictures. I wasn't going to get attached to that being inside of me. I never fully made plans for after she was born.

I was trying to protect my heart.

And then she was born...in my arms.

Alive. Beautiful.

I told her I was sorry for not caring about her while she was in my belly.

She has brought a peace to my heart...a joy...contentment. After having her, I knew how wonderful and precious life is...I really knew!

Every time I hug her, I am fully aware that if my plans had played out, she would not be here.

Yes, I have one child that is not...but that child is in a more perfect place...the arms of Jesus. And one day I will meet that child. I love my angel baby just as much as my others.

I look at her face and sometimes I think that she is 2 in one...that somehow her brother or sister passed on a little of their life to her.

She is a spit fire!

Fully of personality.

A button pusher (you thought I called her Sutton Button because it rhymed?).

Her way or the highway.

But she loves deeply and gives the best hugs in the whole world!

I love you Sutton Grace!

My Children Do Chores

2012-01-19T22:06:00.000-09:00

One of my guilty pleasures is 19 Kids and Counting. It is also something I know my kids can watch and I don't have to worry about it...until the commercials come on. But in the online community they seem to get a lot of flack for making their kids do chores.

When did making kids do work around the house become taboo?

I did chores. A lot of them. I am glad I did chores. I became an adult who knew how to cook, wash dishes, take out the trash, and clean, fold and iron laundry. It was my training to become the perfect housewife ;) Kidding.

But I am perfect...right, babe??

My brothers had their fair share of them too. We came home every Friday from school, and we had to complete our chore list before we could do anything else. If we did it wrong, we had to do it again.

I remember telling my mom she had kids just so she wouldn't have to clean the house. Good idea, right?

My oldest 2 are at the perfect age to do chores. And to tell you the truth, training them wasn't very easy. Some times, it is easier to do it myself. And sometimes I do. But when I don't take the time to teach them, I am not doing them any good. Doing things around the house, helping when help is needed and daily chores will benefit them when they are older.

Plus, it helps me out too!

So, yes, my children do chores... age appropriate chores...it isn't organized, and they do not get paid for them. It is all apart of being a family. Eventually, we will give them an allowance (it is good to teach them to manage money).

Get this, I told Ella that I would pay her an allowance for all the hard work she does around the house and you know what she said? She said she didn't want to be paid, because she loves helping me out because she loves me. Melt my heart!

Ella dear, there it is...written down...I didn't not make this up...when you are a teenager and telling me how unfair life is and that you don't get enough allowance...here you go. You love helping me out without pay because you love me.

And what is a little folding laundry without some Dirty Jobs? We love Mike Rowe around here. And I am thankful for the 'beeps'...and that my children haven't asked what the 'beeps' mean.

Then there is Sutton Grace...I have my hands full with her. The whole family has their hands full with her. She is something...but I love her so much!

It's Cold HERE

2012-01-19T00:37:00.000-09:00

I am sitting here at my desk wrapped in my fleece jacket (ok, that is always), but I have on my slippers and a huge thick blanket wrapped around my feet....and I am still cold.

It has been super cold here in Alaska. Yes, I live in Alaska, and most people think it is covered in snow year round. It is not. And the temps we have been having in the Anchorage area are not normal temps....usually in the low twenties or upper teens.

You know it is cold when the snow doesn't want to come out and play!

It is winter and of course winter is cold everywhere, right? Wrong! If it is 20 degrees or above, it is not cold. Chilly...maybe...NOT cold.

When I see someone from back home state that it is cold outside on Facebook, I have to resist the urge to comment and say "No it is not!" My brother says I am a cold snob. Yes, I am.

Now that I know what cold is, I will never exclaim I am cold if we are ever back in the south again. If I do, someone please slap me upside the head...then let me know that it is cold when I can no longer breathe through my nose because my nose hairs are frozen...or when I rip skin off my hands pumping gas....that is when it is cold.

I am sure I will have to be reminded.

But it is cold. It has been hovering around -19 degrees here at the house. It is sad when you go to the store and it is 7 degrees warmer and you notice the difference.

But why am I covered so much inside my house? The seal is broken around the window near my desk. We never noticed it til the temps dropped. If you are on the floor, you feel it.

JT tried to caulk around the window, but it didn't work...it was too cold. So, I placed a towel down hoping to stop the breeze. It doesn't work too well either....a call will be placed to housing tomorrow!

7 Months and 1 Week-ish

2012-01-18T12:00:00.001-09:00

Meet my inch worm. That is what she does. Although in the last few days, she has coordinated her hands and knees better. Crawling is just around the corner...she has mastered picking cheerios up with her fingers and getting them into her mouth. Crawling and cheerios happen within a few days or weeks of each other.

She also scrunches up her nose like this all the time and then snorts like a pig....or Tank, our dog. If you have been to our house, you know what I am talking about with Tank.

She really doesn't sound like him though.

She is cute.

Still not sleeping, but I am over it. She will sleep one day.

I am happy she will be crawling soon. I think I am the only parent that loves when their kid is on the move. Everyone else seems to dread it, because they get into everything. That is what I love...they get into everything. Then the sweet squeals that come from them when you are chasing them. Love it!

We are quickly approaching my favorite time in raising young children....too quickly, but I embrace it.

Pretty Fly

2012-01-17T23:43:00.000-09:00

The girls and JT love to tie flies. Since he has been off work recouping from surgery, they have tied a few. He has also rigged up the ice fishing poles so they can practice casting in the house. Yes...fun!

Ella loves anything to do with fishing, but Olivia not so much. But JT includes her in everything hoping someday she will love it just as much.

They made their own flies today...big ones. He took the sharp part off the hook and then attached it to the fishing line. So instead of a heavy rubber worm, they had a pretty fly to practice with.

Even Sutton gets to play with it. I usually take the fishing pole away after she gets a hold of it...it turns into an object that pokes things...and people.

So, what can you catch with a really large fly?

A super cute baby!!

They Don't See Color

2012-01-16T23:20:00.000-09:00

Happy MLK Day! Well, yesterday...for most of you it is already tomorrow (Tuesday).

I have been thinking about this day for awhile. Most people don't give much thought to MLK day, there are memorials in most every city to honor such a great man in civil rights. But to a lot of people, it is just a day off work...school...whatever. To tell you the truth, I never gave much thought to it.

I didn't grow up during the civil rights movement, so I can't really identify with the struggles of that day. But I did grow up in the south...Mississippi and the Memphis area. I saw a lot of hatred towards blacks, while they may have the same rights as whites, they certainly were not treated the same.

In Memphis, there is still a lot of race tensions on both sides. It is sad really. There should be no reason for it. We were all created equal and in the image of God. We should love one another regardless of color.

That is how I hope to raise my children.

I knew this year Ella would ask about Martin Luther King Jr., and I wanted to be ready with an answer. Why so worried about it? Well, my children do not see color and I want to keep it that way. Yes, they obviously can tell that someone is darker than they are. But the kids don't describe them as black/white. They don't know color the way we adults know color.

So, when she did ask, I told her he was a great man that fought to make sure that everyone was treated equally and loved.

Of course, in time, I will tell them about the details of the civil rights. But for now, I am enjoying the fact that they aren't corrupted by the world....they still have an innocence about them.

Ella and Olivia both think it would be really neat if I had a baby with "really dark skin". (I had to explain why that couldn't happen...then I prayed we would get into the "birds and the bees" talk...I am not ready for that one. )

They don't see color, and I pray they never do.

Snow. I Love It. I Hate It.

2012-01-13T00:12:00.000-09:00

I have a love/hate relationship with the snow.

I hate it because I have to shovel it, but then I love it, because I get a good workout.

I hate it because you just can't go outside without putting on layers of clothes, but I love it because you have all sorts of cute winter gear.

I hate it because everything is white, and I love it because everything it white.

We have gotten a lot of snow this year. So far, we have 25 inches over what we normally have at this time. If we stay on track with the snow fall, we will blow past the record from back in the 1950's of 130 something inches. If we stay on track, we will have 190+ inches. All of my info was gotten from the weather man tonight...I am not that smart to come up with those numbers on my own.

Here is hoping for an early break-up (when the snow melts), and then all things will be green and tons of light!!

And She is Off...Following Her Sisters

2012-01-06T11:00:00.002-09:00

*First of all...I am at the hospital with JT...not blogging. I had this scheduled.

*Secondly, these are straight out of my camera. My settings are all wrong on the camera (at least the way I like it). But I saw this moment happening and I wanted to capture it...no time to play with the settings. The light during the winter changes so quickly, so I can't keep my settings on one. And there are too many pictures to post, and I didn't feel like fixing them (lightening them up a bit).

*Third, keep in mind that she can't get into a sitting position on her own or crawl...she can "inch worm" real good though. ;)

Sisters went up stairs to get ready for the day.

She wanted to follow.

Biggest sister came to teach her how to do it. Ella is so good when we have babies in the house.

Time to do it on her own.

"I can do this."

"Oops!"

"Let's try this again."

"I got it!"

"Well, shoot!"

"I DID IT!!"

"Really? Again? I need more balance."

"Aaannd one more time."

Then mommy rescues her from a bump on her head she would probably get if she keeps trying.

It is fun to watch babies grow and do things on their own. This probably shows she is persistent...or stubborn...I choose to think persistent.

Have a happy weekend!

2011- Reflections On a Hard Year

2012-01-05T15:12:00.002-09:00

This past year has been very trying on my family. We have had to learn how to do things differently, communicate differently, how to compromise and say 'no' when we need to.

As you may recall, my husband came back from Afghanistan early due to extreme pain in his abdomen. They were unable to diagnose the pain right way, so he went through 6 months of test after test. Finally, an ultrasound revealed a hidden hernia. He had that removed days before Campbell was born. We thought those pain filled days were over. We thought he was on the mend. But shortly after, he knew something wasn't right. Another hernia? Did he tare it again? Well, after more doctor visits and more test, it seems as though the pain he was having (now much worse than the hernia pain) was due to scar tissue. Every day the pain seemed to get worse. They sent him to pain management to try and "break up" the scar tissue. That made it worse. Eventually, he was sent back to the surgeon...a new surgeon, because his old one is currently deployed. He did another CT scan. And the CT scan has revealed that the scar tissue has grown around 3 nerves...the source of this pain. The surgeon gave JT an option of living with the pain or doing surgery. He told him that this was major surgery and there is a possibility that it will not work. We eventually decided to do the surgery. The pain that he lives in everyday is bad, and we need to take that chance of the surgery working. After a second meeting with the doctor, he was more upbeat about the outcome of the surgery. JT will have the scar tissue removed as well as 3 nerves. If all goes according to plan, he will be pain free.
We are cautiously optimistic....but we serve a great God and whatever the outcome, we are in His hands.

I haven't talked about this much on here, because I didn't really know how to word it. I don't want people to feel sorry for us or for it to come across as me complaining, because honestly, he could have come home from war under very different circumstances. He didn't, and I am so greatly for that.

It has been a learning experience for us. We can't just go out and do things other families can. I wish so bad, we could take the girls sledding, but with his pain (and 4 kids) we can't. Going out for the day shopping or simple everyday task can be very painful. I can't leave all 4 kids with him, it is too much. And that is ok. We have learned to live with it. I admire him for doing the things that he does do with the pain he does have. Even though it hurts to sit on the floor, he will sit and play a game of UNO with the girls, or he will change a poopy diaper.

It has challenged us as a couple.
First, I want to say that before this happened, God was preparing my heart to be my husband's helpmate....to serve him more....to make life a little easier on him when he is home. Those 2 things stuck out the most to me. And for good reason. I didn't realize at the time that I would be putting those things to practice. I was not always perfect in doing those things for my husband. Some days it was very hard and I wanted to be selfish and be mad that he couldn't do anything. But God would quickly convict my heart. I love my husband dearly and to serve him and to make life easier on him brings great joy to my heart and it glorifies God.
This time has also taught us to communicate better. We have always been good communicators with one another. But most of the time things are good, and we aren't in a trying circumstance...except this year. I have learned when to let him know that I am overwhelmed, and he has learned to tell me when he needs a break...to relax...to de-stress. We have learned all this through trail and error.

As difficult as this year has been, I don't know that I would trade it. ( JT may tell you differently...he is the one in pain.) It has brought us together as a family. It has matured us as a couple. We are now more understanding of each other. I have been able to teach the girls to think about how the way others may feel and not just about themselves...hands on learning here.

Over the past year, we may have hurt feelings for not doing something or going somewhere. But it is hard to explain pain to people. There are certain things you can push through and some things you can't....you just need to say 'no'. This was suppose to be a simple hernia surgery, but it turned into much more.
I know we have been judged by people. How do I know? I talked with my neighbor, who thought I had a mean husband, because I was always the one shoveling snow. This made me giggle to myself. He is not mean at all. Once I explained that he couldn't, she felt bad for thinking that. In his defense, he has tried to help me shovel, and I sent him inside. He has always taken care of me and for him to have to step aside and let me take on the "manly" jobs has been hard on him.

So, I ask for prayer, because JT goes in for surgery tomorrow. We don't know how long it will be, because the doctor is unsure of what all he will find. We are very grateful to JT's

JT that this surgery is successful, and his pain goes away. I have seen prayer work in AMAZING ways, I know it works that is why I am asking for it. I will update soon. It will be a few days. During that time, I still ask you pray for him...and us.

I will leave with a quote a friend posted on facebook...it has a different meaning for her, but I thought it rather appropriate for our circumstances right now...

"To be certain of God means to be uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow will bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation." - Oswald Chambers

No Gagging

2012-01-02T00:29:00.000-09:00

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Ours was wonderful...relaxing. I loved this Christmas and New Year.

If you are friends with me on Facebook, you may recall a post asking a question about babies gagging when they eat baby food.

Whenever I fed Campbell, she would gag to the point of throwing up. This is not my first child to introduce to foods (obviously), it was weird to me. I did everything right. I put a tiny bit on her spoon and put it to her lips to let her bring in the food. As soon as it hit the back of her throat...gag...gag...gag...throw up!

I did my research and came to the conclusion, she just wasn't ready to eat solids yet.

So, whenever I ate, I would put a bit of food on my finger and introduce it to her. We were able to do that with some success. I try the spoon again...gag...throw up.

Here we are, almost 7 months and tonight, she ate several bites without throwing up!!!

YAY!! On to bigger and better meals!

Good thing too, because she gets very upset when we are eating "real" food and she is not.

On a side note...that high chair was a cheap $30 chair we picked up when Ella was a baby. It has helped feed 4 children. It will remain in my kitchen for another year or so and then given away or tossed out.

So much of my baby equipment and clothes are getting their final usage...it is bitter sweet!

Campbell and I look alike don't you think?? haha

Photo credit to Ella.

Driving in a Winter Wonderland

2011-12-23T01:30:00.000-09:00

So...I just happen to have my camera with me on out little outing today, and I thought I would share with some of you (southerners) what it is like to drive in the winter up here. Don't worry, I wasn't driving, JT was. We have different driving styles, but in the winter weather like this, we are both extra cautious and take our time.

Today, it was snowing. Normally, we don't get out in the snow. Because snow makes people drive crazy...the same way rain in the south brings out the crazy's in people.

It was very hard to see. You can actually see better in the pictures than you could in real life.

I almost never switch lanes when it is this bad, simply because I don't want to hit a patch of ice...but if I do...I am extra careful. For the most part the Glen Hwy is good to drive...meaning it stays pretty clear because it is well traveled.

This winter has been crazy! It has heated up and melted things which in turn have turned to ice. Under the snow is a layer of ice. I almost took a tumble with Campbell in the parking lot. I stepped in a rock of ice that was buried under all the snow.

Do you see the off ramp? It is there, I promise.

It was bad here. The struggle is turning slightly, slowing down, and ice. It was rough on the off ramp.

This is a neighborhood. While the main hwy is clear most of the time, the side roads are mostly snow. There is usually a thin layer for all of winter. Just stop sooner than you would before snow and most of the time....most of the time...you will not slide through the stop sign. Also, don't step on the gas too hard when coming out of a stop...can we say fishtail?

See the brown stuff? It is sand. Road crews sand the intersections to provide extra traction and it helps.

The best is traveling behind a snow plow. :)

But be careful...they have the right away, and they may not always see you. And they move fast.

Those people get paid well.

If I didn't have kids...

I use to ride in the cotton picker with my dad...it is the same, right?

After awhile of driving in the snow, ice forms to your windshield wipers, and then it smears on your windshield. I have special winter wipers, but it still happens.

I have learned a lot driving up here in the winter. I won't ever freak out because of snow and ice anymore in the south. While in Alaska we are better prepared for this weather, there are days that it is really bad and you are driving on a sheet of ice. And some days you have to get out in the mess and road crews haven't made it easier for you yet because they are backed up.

I am planning on taking my camera out with me more, so you all can get more of an idea of what it is like up here. And just so you know...we have a guest room if you want to see for yourself (this applies to those I personally know).

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This is a sneak peak for all our parents.

Your Christmas presents are in the mail and it will be late.

I was waiting for a sunny day, and we haven't had many. Ironically, this was the shortest day of the year. (Yay, for gaining sunlight!!!)

Mom or Grandmama, do you recognize what Olivia is wearing????

Also, I think she looks like an Indian Princess in this picture. :)

I am taking the weekend off to spend Christmas with my family...relaxing and enjoying them.

I hope you do the same.

Merry Christmas!!

The Cleaning and Scrubbing Will Wait...

2011-12-21T08:00:00.001-09:00

Mother, Oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,

empty the dust pan, poison the moth,

hang out the washing and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She is up in the nursery blissfully rocking.

Oh I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishing are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, peek, peek-a-boo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard is a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,

for children grow up, I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

-Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

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Since Sutton was born, I have realized that my babies are growing fast, and I need to cherish every moment. One day they will leave our little nest, and I want to make sure I made the most of these years.

I constantly have to remind myself that the cleaning can wait, but a child won't always ask you to read them a book and snuggle next to you.

So...if you come to my house and you see dishes in the sink and laundry unfolded on the bed and toys on the floor...just know that the kids and I had a fun day.

Night Owls

2011-12-20T21:49:00.000-09:00

Looks like there is another night owl in the family! Campbell likes to go to bed late and sleep late (with a few nursing sessions in between), just like her momma (minus the nursing sessions...I can do without).

I could totally be cleaning the kitchen right now and let her roll around in the floor, but what is the fun in that? So...little lady and I hung out playing with Photo Booth on the Mac.

Kiss. Kiss. She sees herself on the screen.

There is that cute Campbell Wambell smile I love so much. We really need to come up with a better nickname for her!

Sutton Grace calls her "Tone"...not sure where that came from, but if you hear Sutton say "Tone", she is talking about Campbell. I am not sure the name "Tone" will be so cute when she is a teenager. :)

Ella likes "Cam Cam", but it hasn't stuck yet. We shall see...

She was so sweet to share her thumb with me!

Since I got her thumb, she got my glasses...fair trade.

A Favorite Photo

2011-12-20T01:18:00.000-09:00

Some pictures got "stuck" on my second memory card in my camera and since they did, I never loaded them onto the computer. I apparently was too lazy to switch the cards around.

But when I loaded pictures onto the new computer, my computer was smart enough to pull the photos off both memory cards. Awesome!

There were about 50 photos (all from our trip back home), but this is the one I wanted.

This is probably one of my all time favorite pictures I have ever taken. It isn't tack sharp, but I don't think it needs to be.

My Grandmother was adjusting the way she was holding Campbell, and this is the sweet shot I got from it. I do believe that these two will always have a special bond. Campbell seemed to love my Grandmother very much.

My Half Serious (Not Really) Political Post

2011-12-15T09:51:00.001-09:00

I was thinking last night while watching the news, after everyone was in the bed, and I sat by myself feeding the baby. I don't get much time to think, so when I do....well...my mind wanders and sometimes to very weird places.

There is an election coming up and everyone knows this, unless you have been living under a rock. Obviously, the democrats have their candidate, the President. That leaves the Republicans searching for some one to run against him. Most of those who are in the running have been made into clowns by the media...some of them don't need really the media's help, they are just clowns on their own.

Now, I feel like I need to pause from my point to say that I do not claim a political party....this bothers some, I know. But I feel that most people in politics are not out for the good of the whole, but only the good of themselves and special interest. This makes it really hard come election time.

Back to my point...

President Obama has star power. Whether you like him or not, he does. I do think that is largely the reason he was elected. He had something about him that people liked. Don't all stars? If he wasn't president, I am sure he would be famous for some other reason.
For the republicans to have any chance of beating him in the upcoming election, there needs to be someone of equal star power, if not more. Americans love famous people.
I racked my brain trying to come up with a famous Republican that was liked by most people no matter what your party. It was hard, because I believe Hollywood is largely Democrat. But I did come up with one person...my vote for the Republican party candidate is...

Chuck Norris!

Here is why:

- Climbing Mt. Everest is a daily walk for Chuck Norris.
-Chuck Norris once made a robot for his science class, we know the robot as the Terminator.
- Chuck Norris won't rock your world, he will round house kick into next week.
-Aliens haven't visited earth because they are afraid of Chuck Norris.
-Charlie Sheen is winning...Chuck Norris already won.
-Chuck Norris can talk about fight club.
- Sharks have a week dedicated to Chuck Norris.
-Chuck Norris leaves teeth for the tooth fairy under his pillow, just not his own.
-Chuck Norris made Journey stop believing.
-Humpty Dumpty didn't have a great fall, he was round house kicked by Chuck Norris.
-For Chuck Norris every street is 'one way'- HIS WAY.
-A Rublik's Cube solved itself for Chuck Norris.
-If you add Chuck Norris to your friends list, all your other friends disappear...you don't need them anymore.
-Chuck Norris can do push-ups in a sit-up position.
-Chuck Norris' lunch was stolen during a camping trip- no one has seen Big Foot since.
-Chuck Norris doesn't call the wrong number, you answer the wrong phone.
-Ghost sit around camp fires telling Chuck Norris jokes.
-Chuck Norris is awake 25 hours of the day.
-There use to be a street named Chuck Norris, but the names was changed, because no one crosses Chuck Norris and lives.
-Chuck Norris can cut through a hot knife with butter.
-Chuck Norris counted to infinity-twice.
-Chuck Norris doesn't need Twitter, he is already following you.

And lastly...some people wear superman pajamas, well, President Barack Obama wears Chuck Norris pajamas!

*Disclaimer* If you can't read this with a sense of humor, I am sorry. I know some people don't have much a of a sense of humor when it comes to politics. Also, you can find a infinite amount of Chuck Norris "facts" on the Internet, which by the way...the World Wide Web is Chuck Norris' beard!

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What is a post without a picture of by babies...here is an oldie from our trip back home to Memphis.
We are in full on Terrible Twos in the Turner household! It is her way or the highway...maybe she is Chuck Norris' baby??? hehehe

How to Make Your Toy Puppy a Real Puppy

2011-12-14T08:00:00.001-09:00

I am washing dishes, and Olivia ask for the scissor to cut the tag off her toy dog. This is a frequent occurrence in the house...to cut tags off their toy animals. Usually I do it, but I let her do it this time.

Then I heard...

"There, now he is a REAL dog!"

So, that is how it happens!? Huh? You learn something new everyday.

I will say that since this dog has become real, it has barked a lot!

6 months (Last Week)

2011-12-13T14:04:00.000-09:00

Last week (yet another "last week" statement...a lot happened last week...more on that later), this little munchkin turned 6 months! I can't believe we made it to this age! To be honest the first couple of months were torture on me and her as well. The days dragged by, but hitting this milestone has made me realize that the days have flown by. Having kids really puts time into perspective...as in you don't have time, so make the most of the time you do have.

This one smiles all the time, she smiles at everyone in the family, but momma gets the biggest smile!

I symbolize love, fun, cuddles, comfort and FOOD. I think food is the most important to her. I like to call her my Chunky Monkey...she is my biggest at 6 months so far. All my babies have worn the clothes that fit their ages...well, Campbell is in 9 month clothing. She is a chunker by my standards.

She isn't sitting up yet...well, she can, but she would rather move. She can't sit still. She has 3 older sisters to keep up with. She is always stomping her feet in the jumperoo or exersaucer. When you lay her on the floor, she scoots and rolls to where she wants to go. She is my only one to roll everywhere. All the others didn't have any interest in it.

It is hard to get a picture of her looking at the camera smiling. I usually have to focus on her face and then peak around to get her to smile. If I go back behind the camera, she stops. If you look at all these pictures you will see her looking slightly up. in this picture, I am behind the camera, and she isn't smiling.

See... "There is mommy and I am really excited!"

Sorry for the blur...I didn't have my setting correct on the camera for low light and a fast moving baby.

And here is her little army crawl...more of a one arm scoot for now. She was curious of my camera, which I had sat down beside me as I changed Sutton.

She is a sweet little blessing! She still doesn't sleep at night much, and she doesn't have much a routine during the day. So far, she isn't like any of my other babies...I wonder what is waiting for me as she gets older???

I also think she looks like my dad's side of the family. I see a lot of my cousins in here. Somedays I see a little bit of my bother in her (the older of the two). I think it is neat how genetics take place. Genetics also say that dark hair is a dominate gene, and so far the only one to have close to my dark hair is Ella.

Boy

2011-12-12T22:32:00.000-09:00

This past week, we got have a little boy come stay with us while his momma had his baby brother earlier than expected.

I gathered every possible boy toy we had...blocks, cars, bugs, and a few toddler toys.

I have to say that having a boy in the house was a blast! I grew up with brothers in the house, and it made me go back to those days. It brought a whole new dynamic to the family for the short time he stayed with us. The girls had fun too...especially Olivia.

Who knows...maybe one day I will have nephews I can spoil.

Tease

2011-12-12T12:00:00.003-09:00

I Promise...

2011-12-11T21:48:00.000-09:00

...I will be back to blogging soon! I have a new computer, because the old one was well...old (life expectancy in computers is not long and ours lived longer than expected).

I am trying to figure out the photo thing. I am not very tech savy, so it is taking me longer than I hoped. I knew the other computer so well...it won't take long, and I will know this one as well.

BUT I love my new computer, and I will NEVER EVER go back to a PC!

Look back soon!

My Favorite Day After My Favorite Holiday

2011-11-30T15:53:00.000-09:00

When we lived in the same town our family lives in, we didn't really get to do the holidays the way we wanted to do them. It is fun spending the days with family, but when you have 3 places to be in one day, it can be stressful...then add kids to the mix. So, since we couldn't really establish Christmas traditions of our own, putting up the Christmas tree became a yearly tradition I looked forward to. We could do it our way.

This day is a stress free day. Nothing has to be perfect, but there is an order to what we do.

We put up our tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

First...cookies!

It is all about the kids getting involved...like I said nothing is perfect. We had huge cookies, we had small cookies, but the kids had a blast.

Sutton Grace didn't want to help. This is where I found her...snuggled in our bed watching Christmas cartoons.

And then we decorate the tree...it is not perfect, doesn't have a theme, and it is decorated in ornaments that were made, handed down, and picked up along the way of our many journeys.

I do the lights, my husband is a little too OCD to do the lights...the tree is pre-lit, and I put up the colored lights. The kids decorate. I NEVER redecorate after they go to bed. This is for them...Christmas is suppose to be fun.

The ornaments are played with, and I find them all over the house, but it is ok...they are having fun.

(The big dark blob his my husband "eating' the tree.)

Usually Christmas music is playing, but Oregon was playing football, so we had football in the background. Not perfect...just go with the flow.

With this being Campbell's first Christmas, I put her under the tree to see how she would react. She likes lights, and of course, she was fascinated.

We end the night with our freshly baked cookies, new pjs and the movie ELF.

It is not perfect...it is not suppose to be. It is about creating fun memories and traditions that the kids look forward to year after year.

Like I said, it is not perfect, but it is perfect for us (insert cheesy music for the cheesy last line). :)

Thanksgiving

2011-11-29T23:56:00.000-09:00

We had a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There are no presents involved, just food and fellowship.

We had several soliders (single and families) over for the day. I enjoy being able to provide that home away from home environment. Living in an overseas duty station, and yes, Alaska is considered overseas, many don't get the chance to go home for the holidays...and home is what we like to provide. I always have room at my dinner table for one more.

I had my fair share of helpers when getting ready for Turkey Day.

The plan was to make 3 pies.

One pumpkin and 2 pecan (or Pee-Can as us southerners say it).

I am sure that this time next year, I will have another little helper in the kitchen and not an on looker.

Isn't she so stinkin' cute?? They all are!

I am truly blessed, and I have so much to be thankful for!

This Makes Me Smile

2011-11-16T23:06:00.001-09:00

This video from the small Yup'ik Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska, was a school computer project intended for the other Yup'ik villages in the area. Much to the villagers' shock, over a half million people have viewed it.

Thanks, Grandmomma for sending it to me!

The Snow is Here

2011-11-14T01:01:00.000-09:00

Well, the snow has been here. And it certainly has made it's presence know!

I have shoveled snow every day this past week, except 2 days...that is 5 days and it isn't just an inch here and an inch there. In one 24 hr period, we got 8 inches of snow...that night I saw the biggest snow flakes I have ever seen in my life! They were a good bit larger than a silver dollar.

The kids love playing in the snow. I love playing in it, but by the time I am finished shoveling my "area of responsibility" (our driveway which is 2 car lengths, 2 parking spaces, and the side walk), I am tired of snow, and I don't play in it so much.

I am having to keep my 2 youngest in from the cold. Apparently, the cold weather causing them to have eczema...Sutton Grace's is really bad.

But all in all, the snow really isn't as bad as I play it up to be before it falls.

I am choosing to be positive about it..

Shoveling= great cardio and strength training workout.

Fresh snow= snow cream

The first snow= it makes it feel warmer outside...weird, I know

Cold weather= warm food, baking and more baking...ah, who and I kidding? You can do that any time of year in Alaska!

Sorry for the Blogging Break

2011-11-12T00:06:00.000-09:00

I know it has been awhile...

I have chosen sleep over fun and my usual night time responsibilities.

No one wants a grumpy zombie mom (not sure there is a thing as a happy zombie...or a zombie for that matter). The house is messier than normal, I am behind on laundry a bit more than normal, but I am as rested as I can be for having a baby that STILL will not sleep at night.

Once she goes down at night, so do I.

But while I have taken a break from letting you all into my life, we have been living it. I have been enjoying every precious moment with my girls. I am trying to capture as much as I can and store it in my memory or on the hard drive of the computer.

Snow has fallen, and keeps falling. I have shoveled all but one day this week. We have a busy night life of soccer and ballet practice. We started going to a homeschool co-op. We have said good bye to friends. Ella is reading...FINALLY!!

Life is busier than I ever thought it could be right now, but it will settle down.

Before it does, it will probably get even more crazy.

This weekend, we are enjoying a weekend at home...a relaxing weekend. I hope to get caught up on cleaning and laundry, but if I don't, it is not the end of the world.

I hope to return to regular blogging soon...I have so many fun stories to share!

Thank You Pinterest

2011-11-02T12:00:00.001-08:00

I love Pinterest. You know those people that go through magazines and clip pictures of what they like and then organize them in binders accordingly?? I am not one of those people...but I always wished I was. I would store my "likes" in my memory...and later forget about it.

Anyways...Pinterest is like that. Easy. No paper. No scissors. Easy to organize. Addicting!

There are so many amazing ideas out there that I will try little by little.

Here is one. Bite size caramel apples. I love caramel apples, but I don't always want the whole apple.

The picture is pretty self explanitory. Cut the apple in small pieces, stink a tooth pick in them and dip them in melted caramel.

Kid approved!!

I also made donuts...I was inspried by what I saw on the site.

Soooo I like sweets...no more looking at the sweet stuff...only healthy things from now on.

HAHA yeah right!

Obligatory Halloween Post

2011-11-01T22:59:00.001-08:00

I have always loved Halloween. I think dressing up is fun. Candy is even FUNNER! (yes, I know "funner" is not a word.)

Halloween ushers in fall to me. The air is crisp and cool for the most part...I am talking about living in the south here. It is also the start of the holiday season.

A few days before Halloween, we went to the Trunk or Treat with JT's work. The kids were excited to go. I got excited to dress up JT's truck. They got loads of candy!

Olivia was a cowgirl, Sutton was an ice cream cone, and Ella was a bride (later she turned into a vampire bride when she was given vampire teeth). Note the coats...we don't get to show off our awesome costumes here in Alaska, we cover them up.

This is my 2nd place winning "trunk" in the Trunk or Treat. You have to see it at night to get the full effect. There was a black light, so everything glowed. JT had his stereo playing spooky tunes...you know...spooky like Thriller, Monster Mash, and The Purple People Eater.

This maybe weird that I like this photo because of the army truck in the background. I am sure it has a proper name...but I don't care and you probably don't either.

The army is so much a part of our lives. It dictates our everyday for the most part. While I get frustrated with it (A LOT), I will look back on these pictures with fondness.

And don't think all the big sisters got to have all the fun, my little Cotton Candy was in on the action too.

She is the only one that didn't get to pick her own costume...sorry Campbell.

Sorry, there are no pictures of actual Halloween. I wasn't going to take my camera out in the blizzard we had going on...ok...maybe no a blizzard, but close.

Olivia and My Camera

2011-10-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

I take a lot of pictures...a lot. So, naturally one of my children would probably want to also. I figured it would be Ella, but she enjoys posing for the camera. Olivia is the one that is always asking to take pictures. So, I let her. Thank goodness for digital, right?

I get a lot of pictures of random things.

Told ya Ella like posing for the camera.

Besides taking pictures of random things, she enjoys taking pictures of her sisters.

What is nice about it, is going through the pictures and seeing little ones doing things they are not suppose to do.

This particular day was Olivia's birthday.

Someone couldn't wait for cupcakes...she got a finger in one.

Look who else got caught...with a ball she isn't suppose to have.

I enjoy these pictures a lot. She also likes taking pictures of me. But they will not be posted here...they are usually picture of my lower half...not my best side.

The Post About A Good Homeschooling Day

2011-10-20T23:02:00.000-08:00

Please don't think that I have it all together or that I am supermom or that my little life is perfect...it is not. The good, blissful days and the "I am so glad that I homeschool my kids, and I wouldn't never do anything else" days aren't as many as I hoped in the beginning. AND in talking with other homeschooling moms...it isn't for them either...so I don't feel so abnormal.

So, why do I still do it?

Because it works for our family and I do not feel like sending them to school is the answer to my bad days.

Anyways...today, was one of those "I am so glad I homeschool, and I wouldn't do anything else" days.

We got a late start and usually that means a bad day.

We started with Math for Ella and she said something when we were finished with math that I would never ...NEVER, NEVER, NEVER...say.

She said, "Mommy, I love math! Can we do more!"

WHAT?! Who is this child and where did she come from?

She is obviously her dad's child...I hate math!

I was a little worried about teaching math, but Saxon gives me a script in my teacher book. We also use Saxon for phonics. I wish I had used Saxon from the beginning with Ella for phonics. She has struggled with reading so much, but Saxon is slow and repetitive (which is one reason a lot of people don't like it for phonics). But it is perfect for Ella. Combined with what she knew before to now...it is another world. She is probably more on the level she is supposed to be for reading. She is spelling words very well. I love it.

I will forever be a Saxon math and phonics user for my children.

Olivia kind of gets to do whatever she wants...for the most part. One thing she loves, is Starfall. It has been a favorite for the girls since before we started this whole homeschool journey.

As you can see...Sutton Grace loves it too.

(Olivia is wearing part of her costume for Halloween...she is going to be a cowgirl. She found a cow costume for JT and said, "Mommy, Daddy needs this so he can be a cow, and I can be a cowgirl!"....don't think JT will go for that.)

Ideally, I would like for Miss Campbell to be napping during our school time, but we all know by now that she does not sleep.

She usually rolls around on the floor or sits in my lap.

Notice the thumb in her mouth? She won't take a pacifier...she wants her thumb. There is nothing I can do about it. It is how she soothes herself if she isn't nursing. I am not thrilled about it, because you can take away a paci (well...we haven't tried yet with Sutton), but you can't take away a thumb.

We shall see if she keeps this up...

But still...it is so cute!

Usually, Sutton is playing with toys or one of her sisters while school is going on. Today, Olivia wanted to color, so we did. I knew Sutton would end up with marker on herself at some point. I caught her in the act. She prefers drawing on herself to anything else.

This photo was a happy accident for me...look at that look I am getting!

She is mimicking my look.

I realized that later on today when I got on to her and gave her "the look", and she gave it back!!

What a stinker!

While not a perfect day...there were no tears over school...no tantrums...and the kids did great too!

Everything that needed to be accomplished got accomplished.

I only have a couple of kids to teach...I can't imagine being a teacher in a school.

My hats go off to them!

You Got Something On Your Face

2011-10-15T23:56:00.000-08:00

Campbell (or "Cam-ba" as Sutton says it), started rice cereal...well, she ate it once. And by "ate it", she spit most of it out.

I don't actively try feeding food to my kids until 6 months...and even then, it is once a day til about 7 months.

I remember feeding Ella for the first time, and I couldn't figure out why most of it ended up on her bib than in her mouth. I mean it was food...goodish food...baby food makes me gag. Maybe that is why I feed them table food as soon as I can.

Anyways...I asked the doctor about it.

Why couldn't she eat like me???

Did you know babies have to learn to eat with a spoon?

Well, I didn't.

Now I do...which is why we do a celebratory "Yay, we can eat something other than just breast milk!" meal. I do it around 4 months...and don't really try again unless I feel up to it before 6 months.

But Campbell, is the only one of my children that went in for a second bite with her mouth wide open.

I guess she liked that rice...well, the little bit she swallowed.

My Laundry "Helper"

2011-10-14T00:46:00.000-08:00

I hate laundry!

But I have to do it. We have to have clean close...right? Or do we???

I don't enjoy it one bit.

And while she "helps" me by unfolding, mixing piles, taking clothes away...she is still so stinkin' cute.

I love that gap tooth smile!

Unexpected Science Lesson and Some Pics of the Littlest Lady

2011-10-11T23:40:00.000-08:00

Ella wanted to go outside and look at the frost.

We have had frost every morning for about 2 weeks...meaning soon, snow will be here.

I AM NOT READY!!

Unexpectedly, we turned playtime into school time with a quick lesson on heat.

"Why do you think your hand melts the frost?"

"My hand is hot."

There you go...science done. ;)

"Mommy my tongue melts it too!"

....she gets that from her Daddy...haha

For those that have been checking to see if I have posted anything lately...sorry for such a long break.

Life has been, well...overwhelming...I won't go into all the details, because it will really sounds like I am complaining. And I don't want to complain, because really, I am blessed beyond measure.

I had to let a few things slide in order to do what was important.

I enjoy writing and posting pictures on this blog sooo much, but with everything piling up, I needed to take a break.

I felt like I was drowning...so I decided to drown myself in my Bible and pray constantly.

Guess what??

It has helped so much!

While my plate is still overflowing, I don't feel consumed by it all.

I am constantly praying. While the passages may not apply directly to my situation at that given moment, it gives me a peace.

While I took a blogging break, my littlest lady turned 4 months!

She is rolling over, grabbing at everything, drooling like crazy...and has reverted back to newborn sleeping habits...but who could possibly be mad at that sweet face for not sleeping?? She smiles all the time (except when I am behind the camera).

And over the past few weeks and many, many, many more weeks to come...this is how I feel...

Sleep well, sweet Campbell, because momma ain't sleepin' much!

Campbell Rose

2011-09-30T12:35:00.001-08:00

I just realized that I didn't post my weekly pic of my youngest. I should be posting these every Monday, so I went back in my pictures and this is from Sunday...close enough.

16 wks...almost 4 months.

I can say that this last month has gone by waaaayy too fast!

She is still happy (thanks to no dairy).

She is still a screamer when she is mad.

She drools like crazy!

She is starting to grab and hold on to objects.

And for the BEST news...

SHE SLEPT 11 HOURS LAST NIGHT!

5

2011-09-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

I can't believe she is 5 already!

She is so stinkin' beautiful!

Olivia was such a blessing to me when she was born. We had moved away from family (all the way to Georgia...which seemed like a forever long way away then). I was new at this whole military wife thing. I was nervous I was going to have another Ella baby...one that cries all the time and never slept.

She was the most quiet baby. When she cried you just wanted to laugh, because it was so pitiful.

She slept 12hr at night at 2 months. She was always easy going. I have always said, God knew I needed Olivia.

Then, she started walking...and she explored everything. If she wanted it, she found a way to get it.

She is still quiet and shy...unless she is comfortable around you.

She runs everywhere.

She is very giving.

She doesn't want you to see her cry.

She has become a great big sister.

And I tell Ella all the time that Olivia is a great little sister too.

Birthdays are special around here.

Each girl gets to pick out their cake, all the meals, and one place to go out to eat.

Olivia wanted strawberry cupcakes with rainbow icing.

We are saving our eat out meal until Daddy gets home.

We are going to Moose's Tooth. If you come to visit, we will take you there.

I Love Fall

2011-09-28T22:07:00.000-08:00

Fall is my FAVORITE season!

And it is beautiful here, but only for a little while...4wks or so.

I love the smell and the crispness in the air.

This year, we have had more sunny/non-rainy days during fall than last year.

We went for a walk to enjoy what could be our last in the pretty yellow leaves before snow fall.

The girls had fun gathering leaves and throwing them in the air.

I love their expressions!

Little lady got in on the action too!

2

2011-09-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

Today, we celebrated my little blessing's birthday.

She has been such a gift to her daddy and I.

I love her so...even when she throws her tantrums.

She loves her Daddy...they have a very special relationship. They are both very (and I mean VERY)much alike.

She is full of personality, loves to make us laugh, and loves being the center of attention. She is very strong willed, and gets into EVERYTHING!

She is precious...she has a mischievious grin...and can melt my heart when she is walking away, turns to look at me and blows me a kiss.

And she LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Elmo aka "Melmo"!

Treasured Moment

2011-09-24T00:03:00.000-08:00

At the moment this picture was taken, it was 11:30pm. Everyone was in bed sleeping. I was holding a sleeping baby that was having trouble staying asleep in her bed.

She needed to be on my chest.

I, however, wanted nothing more than to be in bed, under my covers, asleep.

But I reminded myself to treasure this moment.

Because all too soon, she will be grown up...

To The Rescue

2011-09-22T21:04:00.000-08:00

There are certain things we do...must do...for our children.

Like coming to their rescue...when they can't get themselves out of a situtation that they THEMSELVES got into.

This is one of 3...up one nostril. JT got one, I got one, and then she brought me one along with a booger.

Ella Bella

2011-09-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

As I have stated before, we are in a new stage of parenting with Ella...learning to let go a little. It is hard. JT and I have no clue what we are doing, but neither did we the day we brought her home. She has turn out ok, I believe.

She is such a huge...HUGE...help to me. I don't know what I would do without her around. She is always willing to do what I ask...most of the time. If I need a diaper, she runs to get one for me. If I left something upstairs, she gets it. She entertains the babies, so I can get food on the table.

I try to make an effort to thank her for all she does. I also am allowing freedoms for just her, and some of her responsibilities are a little more grown up...they require me trusting her. It is important for her to know I trust her.

She is very much a free spirit! She has a deep passion for the things she likes. And if she doesn't like something, she will let you know...over and over and over.

A lot of people don't get her...sometimes I don't get her. But I love her!

She is growing up way to fast...but still in some ways she will always be my baby girl.

I feel like I have been down on her recently...always on her case about something. But yesterday, I realized that I need to ease up a little, because when I do, she shines...she proves to me that I can trust her.

She is a wonderful big sister and a wonderful first born.

Ella, when you are older and you read this, I want you to know that I could not have made it through these past couple years without you. Thank you for being who you are and always bringing a smile to my face. You make life better when you are around. I can never say it enough, but I love you (more than the outer spaces)!

Fall Is Here

2011-09-19T12:11:00.001-08:00

I feel like I don't do big girl crafts anymore. Most of the time it involves kiddie crafts. And most of the things I would like to try end up taking too long, and they end up in a closet somewhere.

But I love crafting!

I frequent craft blogs and dream of doing what they do.

Lately...for months now...I have been seeing these fabric rosettes EVERYWHERE.

They looked too complicated to even attempt to try.

But Saturday night, I looked up some tutorial...and oh my goodness...they are so easy!

Why have I not tried this before?

I made a trail rosette, and I was happy with it.

I could make a headband or a clippie or even a broach, but none of my girls (except Ella) where anything other than a rubber hair band. I am not much of an accessory person myself.

But I did need a fall themed wreath for my front door. I usually make my wreaths...and I like doing it...the ones you can buy are too expensive for me.

So I made this. I love it! I am sure I will make more, because this took so little time to make (30mins).

I have a bunch of scrap fabric I got from my grandmother awhile back, and I finally used it.

And I can't have a Monday post without posting a pic of this sweet little one.

15wks

Revealing Secrets About Me And My Not Shy Child

2011-09-18T23:50:00.000-08:00

I am not one to want to be the center of attention. I don't like people staring at me...which usually happens, because I am really tall, and I have a bunch of kids.

But anyways...when you first meet me, I could be labeled as a snob, but it is not that...I am pretty shy and quiet until I get to know you. Olivia is a lot like me that way.

If I am 110% comfortable, you will see my goofy side. It is not a side I show often, unless you know me VERY well. My kids see it and my husband sees it...all the time...it isn't always pretty. But my husband has to love me...he vowed too. My kids have to because, well, I am their mom.

Many of you have seen it, but many more probably have not.

Most of the goofiness lately is in making up songs...well words to preexisting songs.

Like for example...take the Back Street Boys. They have a song called "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"

(Just for clarification- I was not a fan of them back in the day, so I do not know why this would be the song I would sing.)

During bath time, I have my own version.

"Everybody. (yeah) Wash your body. (yeah) Everybody. Wash your body right. Wash your body right!"

But I will change it up sometimes...with a high pitched voice or the ever so popular male popstar voice.

I sing this to the girls...I have for years now...and every now and then, you will hear them singing it.

I have no clue where this one came from, but it is

"Where my Sutton Button? Where my Sutton Button?"

And it has a nice little dance that goes with it...and Sutton has started doing the dance recently.

Ah, I guess it is one of those "you have to be there" things...or maybe not. Because if you were here, I wouldn't do it.

My most recent made up words to preexisting songs...is Old MacDonald.

We all know how that song goes.

Well, my version has each of my family members in it.

Ella's is "a pout pout here and a pout pout there".

Olivia's is "a run run here and a run run there".

Sutton's is "a mine mine here and a mine mine there".

Campbell's is "a waaa waaa here and a waaa waaa there".

Daddy's is "a fish fish here and a fish fish there".

The girls love it and sing it all the time. They especially love Sutton's because that seems to be all she says when she plays with them.

ANYWAYS...

JT took Ella and Olivia on a fishing trip this weekend. At the lodge, the first night, they had open mic night. And my NOT SHY child, Ella got up to sing Old MacDonald...but little did they know, she was going to be singing the "made up" version.

There were about 20 people there, and she loved being the center of attention!

I love this side of her. Within the first few seconds of meeting her, you will know all her sister's names, that she has 5 adult teeth and whatever else may be on her mind at the time.

What To Do When Sisters Are Away

2011-09-17T14:52:00.000-08:00

Jump on the trampoline all by herself!

And she jumped and jumped and jumped...

She had a blast!

Adjusting To One Another

2011-09-17T12:00:00.001-08:00

Campbell and I spent most of our time like this for the first 2 months of her life.

She was so uncomfortable and hurting and fussy. This was the only way she would be calm. We spent the day like this and the night. I didn't get much done or much sleep.

But since I figured out that dairy was hurting her, she has been the happiest baby.

She smiles all the time!

I love her!

2011-09-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

I went back and forth on whether to write this post or not.

Then I decided too.

I talk about my children that live in my home, why can't I talk about my child in heaven...whenever I want.

Recently, I had a friend lose her baby.

Recently, I have stumbled across blogs of women going through the emotions of losing their baby.

Recently, I saw a House Hunter's episode from Tybee Island, Ga.

I didn't expect to get emotional watching the show. But when they showed the beach....tears came to my eyes and several emotions came and many memories came.

I remembered the day I decided to go to the ER and how I was trying to keep it together....how every one seemed cold (I am not sure anyone knows what to say or how to act when a woman is losing her child).

I remember them saying, "Well, there is a heartbeat.", but not saying what we were all thinking.

Some people roll their eyes when a woman talks about those moments or say things like, "Shouldn't you be over that by now?".

Which is probably why no one talks about it.

I will...and I will make no apology for it.

It is heartbreaking....HEARTBREAKING!

I always thought that the day my child was due would be hard for me, but it isn't that day. I think about my child that day, but that day is not hard. Even the day I lost my baby isn't hard, I think about my baby then, but that day isn't hard.

It is the moments that take me by surprise...when someone asks me how many children I have...when I am washing dishes...when I see a child that would be the same age...when I see a TV show of where my child is buried...when I see a picture of a sea turtle...looking through old photos...

For those that have not experienced that kind of loss, please be sensitive to those that have.

Just because our baby wasn't "born", doesn't make it hurt any less.

It hurts. And we will have days that are hard...and we should.

And one day, I am sure I will hold my child in my arms, but right now...my child is playing with all the other babies born into heaven.

I wonder if they know that their mommies were good friends...or even that some are related?

Arctic Valley Hike...Sort Of

2011-09-14T16:56:00.000-08:00

There are so many places to get out and hike in Alaska...literally, you can step out your back OR front door. It is beautiful!

I like going to Arctic Valley when we need to go some place close.

I feel like I am in the movie Heidi. Remember that one?

If you hike the whole thing, it isn't very long...but we have never hiked the whole way.

You can pick berries, but you have to go up pretty high on the mountain.

And you can even dance! :)

I am hoping that we can get out more as a family and do these short hikes before the snow falls.

I love Alaska, and I can say that living here has made me appreciate the SUNSHINE sooo much!

We get a lot of rain and cloudy days.

Best Friends...

2011-09-14T08:00:00.002-08:00

...they just don't know it yet!

Why I Love Homeschooling

2011-09-13T15:55:00.000-08:00

This is what a normal morning looks like.

We spend so much time together, and it is an added bonus that Daddy gets to come home for lunch most days!

And I can't forget this smiley face!

This is what she looks like most of the time now. She is a happy baby!

14 weeks (yesterday).

Man Things

2011-09-10T08:00:00.001-08:00

As a military wife, I am use to long periods of time without my husband. During those times, I have to everything. I don't have the man around the house to do "man" things.
Then, when he is home, I get so use to having a man to do those "man" things that I forget I can do them myself.

This weekend we bought a fire pit that was on sale. I have wanted one all summer long, but couldn't seem to justify spending the money on it.

I was waiting on my handy husband to put it together, but I didn't want to ask him to do it. He works all day and people demand much of him, and I want him to be able to relax as much as possible.

So, I decided I could do it. I mean how hard could it be?

Well, first, make sure you read the ENGLISH side of the instructions if you can't read Spanish.

Secondly, make sure that when you are screwing parts together, they are facing the right direction and not upside down.

I am not speaking from experience...it is just some advice I thought I would offer.

Ok...Ok...I am speaking from experience, but both problems were easily fixed.

It is also very helpful to have an enthusiastic 7 year old to help!

~~5 minutes~~ 15 minutes later, it was finished.

And ready for s'mores!

Table Manners

2011-09-09T12:00:00.002-08:00

We will probably never get an A+ in parenting when it comes to table manners.

But we have fun!

We do try to enforce that when we are at other people's or in a public place we don't do certain things. And they are good for the most part.

But if you give the girls a straw wrapped in paper, rest assure, you will get the paper blown in your face. I am sorry!

I blame my husband...who blames his mom.

3 months

2011-09-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

On Monday, baby girl turned 3 months. I would like to say that time has flown by, and in a way it has, but it has been a long 3 months.

She still doesn't sleep through the night. She has no routine. Every night and every day is different.

And she is still a screamer.

BUT

She isn't screaming as much. She smiles all the time, she loves to be talked to. She is very alert. She is trying really hard to roll over. She loves her sisters playing with her.

I also had to change/ give up some things I was eating.

I believe the reason she cried all the time was because of acid reflux. The doctor said she didn't have it. But when I walked in on her blue in the face from spit up, I started doing my own research.

She has a lot of the symptoms an acid reflux baby would have. Since the doctor didn't believe me, and I am not a hug fan of medicine if it can be helped, I looked to see what I could do to help her.

She nurses on one side at a time to keep her tummy light.

She finally takes a pacifier and doesn't use me as one. I was her for awhile, and she would get so mad when my milk would let down.

AND THE BIGGEST CHANGE....

no more dairy for me :(

When I drink milk, yogurt, ice cream or anything with a lot of dairy in it, her tummy hurts.

But since then, she has not had the problems she was having before. I am thankful that it was a pretty easy fix. I love a big glass of cold milk, but I can give that up for awhile.

She is so sweet and one day she will sleep through the night.

She is also allergic to chocolate.

I KNOW!!

IT IS HORRIBLE!!

I LOVE me some chocolate.

So, if you see a zit on my baby's cheek, you will know I gave into my weakness.

Goodnews for giving up dairy and chocolate, I lost a dress size in one week. Pregnancy clothes...yes please! Hopefully, Sutton's baby weight will fall off too.

I have never lost weight this soon after having a baby, I always gain it.

What My Husband Did

2011-09-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

My husband spent a year in Afghanistan with the 23rd Sappers (just recently voted best company in the Army). They were a family of soldiers. I got many questions about what he did. They were followed by National Geographic. The National Geographic link will take you to the videos. I believe it will air on TV too, but I am not sure when.

Encouragement

2011-09-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

Soooo many days...most everyday....I need this particular encouragement from the Girl Talk blog. I will have to tape this up at in my kitchen. I think I may need the book quoted in the post too.

I constantly feel like I go, go, go and do, do, do and never catch up...

17 Years of Friendship

2011-09-04T09:00:00.002-08:00

So, now I feel really old adding up how long I have been friends with one of my best friends.

She is the reason I went home during the hottest time of the year. (Of course, I needed to make my yearly trip to the lower 48 anyways to visit family.)

The first few days of the trip were spent with Lindsey.

I am so happy you have found someone who makes you happy. I love you so much!

No matter how far apart we live or how long we go between conversations, it is like we were never apart.

Tea Party

2011-09-03T21:26:00.000-08:00

My two oldest have been having Tea Parties with Nana for a long time now.

Shortly after arriving at Nana's, they ask for a tea party.

It started out with juice and sometimes milk, but now it is tea.

There is full blown tea party speak..."Cheers!"

Tea party manners are a must.

Now the 3rd sister gets to participate. I believe she has gotten the hang of it.

I love watching the tea parties with Nana. And the girls love having them with her. Memories are made that will last a lifetime. And I am sure that one day when my girls have grandchildren, they will have tea parties with them.

Family

2011-09-03T08:00:00.003-08:00

I love going home to visit family. Most of my family lives in one area as well as JT's parents. I love to see how the girls interact with each family member...what traits they may get from them.

Enjoy a few photos...

7

2011-09-02T21:59:00.000-08:00

Today, my baby girl turned 7.

She is getting so big, and I am in a new stage of parenting...learning to let go a little...learning how to stop the attitude that comes with this age.

Being a mother is not easy. It is no wonder more 1st born kids don't come out messed up from all the mommy mess ups.

Birthdays are special.

We ate breakfast at IHOP.

Chocolate was a reoccurring theme through out Ella's day.

She wanted Chinese for dinner.

Chicken fried rice (homemade), egg rolls and fortune cookies (not homemade).

Complete with chop sticks.

Mommy ate with a fork.

If I had to eat with chopsticks all the time, food would never make it to my mouth.

Spiderman cupcakes for everyone (mom, dad, Olivia, and Sutton Grace).

The girl fell in love with Spider man when she was 3 and still loves him today.

Happy Birthday baby girl!

What did Ella want for her cake?

A bowl of CHOCOLATE icing...and that is just what she got!

Dear Family, Are You Ready?

2011-08-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

I know you think you are...but are you really ready for all 6 Turner's to come to your house?

Do you really know what you are in for?

Say goodbye to your peace and quiet...

Because we are loud, crazy, moody, restless...of course we are AMAZING too...there will be crying, stomping, and pouting (maybe not just from the kids).

We (JT and I) do our best to control the amount of chaos that goes on. We have been working on the table manners and manners in general...I don't want you all thinking they were raised in a barn.

But never fear...we are only in town for a little while...it won't be long if the noise level gets too much for you. We try to control it, but well, we have 4 kids...girls...with emotions.

Last time we were there, we had 3. Ella and Olivia weren't so grown up...and Sutton Grace was just a baby baby. Ella and Olivia are growing and very opinionated...and Sutton...well, GOOD LUCK!

This is your warning....brace yourselves!

(If by some chance, they behave like perfect angels...just know that this is not normal and there was probably a bribe involved.)

Make It Friday...Or Saturday: Edible Finger Paint

2011-08-13T16:24:00.000-08:00

(I know I promised this yesterday, but we had an unexpected family day out, and I will take those days over blogging any day!)

This school year, I have added a craft/art/project day that will be every Friday. It doesn't have anything to do with what we are learning...it is just a chance for the girls to have fun.

And I will do my best to share it with you all too. I get my inspiration from all over the Internet and I will link where I get those projects. I am not too creative to come up with my own most of the time, but I do like to be creative.

So, this past week, we made Edible Finger Paint.

I followed this recipe.

When is calls for stirring, it takes awhile...so I got the girls to help while I cleaned.

Oh, and I kept my heat on medium.

It is ready when it looks like this...like wax that is in the process of melting.

To speed up the cooling process, I took the pot outside. You can do this when you live in Alaska :)

What do you do while waiting for it to cool?

Feed the dog.

And then EVIL LAUGH because you know you aren't suppose to and hope by laughing it makes it all ok. In this case, it did. I was laughing too...so you get a blurry picture.

It was too rainy that day to do what I wanted to do with the paint, so we waited for a few days. The weatherman promised us sun later in the week (which isn't saying much).

To get the amount of paint I did, I followed the recipe but x4. You can do the same for however many colors you want.

Now...Paint and get messy!

Why edible paint? Well....

Let's go paint balling...scoop a big glob out of the jars...

And throw!

It is finished! They had a blast!

Ok...not finished!

(Yes, we are all really that white...Alaskan white...we can tan, but we don't get the chance up here.)

Sticky, messy, gooey hands! She was not happy.

So, I told her to get over it and have fun. Mean mom...I know.

So...we chase our sister.

And she chases back.

A truce called...or "uncle"...

They had fun, and I did too. It is sooooo messy. If you do this with your kids, expect paint to get a few places. I got them in the shower to clean them. I couldn't hose them off...we have arctic cold water coming out our water hoses.

*tip: if you want to save your paints and use them again, you can. Just stir well when you open the jar and add a little water to it, if you need to.

Sneak Peak

2011-08-11T23:22:00.000-08:00

More on what we did this week, tomorrow.

But for now, here is a sneak peak at it...

What is that on Sutton's head???

It is just a pink soccer ball that was until our Chesapeake got ahold of it.

2 months

2011-08-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

Today, we celebrated 2 months with this sweet baby. Well, we didn't actually celebrate. If it was up to Ella we would have...cake and all.

She is getting more and more use to her little body outside of mommy's. She is calming down and interacting a lot more with me...and more recently, her daddy.

But we still have our moments...

I wouldn't trade this sweet thing for all the quiet babies in the world.

She is a wonderful addition to our family.

1st Day of School

2011-08-03T16:25:00.000-08:00

We started school this week. I took this on Olivia's first day as a Kindergartner.

I don't think she really knew what to expect, but she has done really well. She is a fast learner and just like I have expected, she has picked up everything I have taught her fast. And she is even picking up on some of Ella's school faster than Ella.

Poor Ella, it just takes her a little longer, but she gets it. Both she and I are learning patience.

For both of them, I am using Saxon Phonics and Math. I loved the Math curriculum so much that I looked into their Phonics for Ella. She is a slow reader. And in a traditional school, she would get left behind. We thought about doing 1st grade all over again, but she excels in all the other subjects. So, she is in 2nd grade, but we are doing 1st grade phonics. She will fly through this program. But it is teaching her how to read in a way that makes more sense to her. I am hoping to be finished with it by Christmas. I am confident that at the end of the school year she will be reading at a 2nd grade level.

Speaking of school year, JT and I have decided to do school year round. I can just hear the "UGHs". I never thought I would do it. I always loved having a long break during the summer. But I have set up the school year so the kids are getting a break once a month and still getting a good bit of time off in the summer.

What made me do this? Well, the girls do well when we do school. They obey more, are more respectful of JT and I and each other. Also, Ella seems to get burned out after days on end of school.

So, we are giving it a go. They will still have the same amount of days as everyone else...180, but with breaks at different times of the year.

Ella is very excited about this school year. Olivia is also.

I do their Math and Phonics with them separately. They both get one on one time with me, while the other plays with Sutton. Although, today, Sutton was right there with us.

Then Science and History is done together. For Ella it is a must, but for Olivia, it is optional.

For Kindergarten it is a must to read, read, read and play, play, play.

I am sure this year will be better than the last 2. And I am very thankful that I will only have 2 in school for awhile before the little girls start. :)

That Mom

2011-08-03T15:44:00.000-08:00

I normally do my grocery shopping and cleaning during the week, so that on the weekends we can spend time together as a family, and there are no chores or errands to run.

Because of this, I have all the kids with me pretty much all the time. 3 kids at the store...no big deal...4 is another story (atleast with my 4 on this day).

We all know by now that Campbell is a screamer. And Sutton Grace...well, let's just say it is her way or the highway. Ella and Olivia have been around long enough to know how to act at the store, but on this particular day....I was THAT mom.

I had Campbell in the wrap....she was, of course, screaming. She screamed so much, she blew out her diaper...which made her scream more.

Sutton Grace was NOT happy she had to sit in the cart strapped in. So, along with going into convulsions, she repeatedly threw her shoes.

This one was pouting.

And this one was in her own world, not staying near me, and then running in front of or into people when she realized I was down the aisle.

I was THAT mom.

I got sympathetic looks...but all I wanted to do was tell them off for even looking at me.

I got the looks of "why did you bring your kids to the store?"

I got the looks of "oh my, she can't control those kids"

I would hear, "someone isn't happy."

You think?

I was near the end of my store run and what did I see? The line was wrapped around the store!

I almost lost it in the store! I wanted to call JT at work and have him come rescue me. I thought about leaving the cart and running.

But then Campbell finally stopped screaming, and Sutton came to terms with the fact she was not going to get her way. And Ella and Olivia hung onto the cart.

I finished my shopping, but my nerves were fried!

I don't go with all of them by myself anymore (atleast for a few more months).

I go with just the baby and JT watches the others.

During my last trip to the store, there was another mom who was "That Mom". The cashier and bagger said, "wow, someone isn't happy at all", with some disgust in their voices. They then looked at Campbell, who was asleep in her carseat ( I have learned to go during her long nap), with approval.

I then told them I was "that mom" 2 days ago.

We were in line at Walmart and Campbell was...you guessed it....screaming. But this time JT was with me, so I didn't feel the need to crawl under something til it all stopped.

I was able to have a sense of humor over the events that took place as I watch this lady go from standing behind us in line to check out to another line that was longer so she didn't have to be near the woman with a screaming baby.

I laughed and told JT that I was "that mom" no one wants to be around.

Oh...well...sometimes all you can do is smile even when you want to cry.

Sister Love

2011-07-31T23:49:00.000-08:00

I had a totally different post in mind for tonight, but for some reason my camera didn't load all my pictures onto the computer.

I am too tired to figure it out....so for now....I leave you with this cute pic.

This will be in a frame forever in their room.

Looks

2011-07-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

I am getting a lot of these looks lately.

This tells me that I obviously do not know more than she does.

I am sure I will get many, many, many, many more of them.

20-10

2011-07-22T23:14:00.000-08:00

If you ask my husband, he did not turn 30 today. He turned 20-10. That is probably very accurate. While 30 isn't "old". It is that magic number we all dread at some point when we are younger. My husband is still very young at heart and will probably always be.

So, Happy 20-10 babe!

By the way...I cooked an amazing dinner.

All from scratch.

Let's just say, I will never buy a lasagna or cheese cake again.

Just had to toot my own horn for a second. Those amazing meals don't happen that often.

Sutton Grace and the Water Hose

2011-07-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

"Mine. Mine. Miiiiinnnuuhh."

Have you ever seen such multi-tasking?

Those eyes say she is thinking about doing something she shouldn't...(her daddy has the same look).

It is all fun and games til...

someone gets splashed in the eyes.

Ella

2011-07-16T21:52:00.001-08:00

Our first baby is growing up. She will be 7 soon. Her Daddy and I are having a hard time coming to that realization...we have to let loose of the ropes a bit...give her more independence.

She is a beautiful person and full of life.

She is going on 6 going on 16. Teaching and training this age is different than the others. We are learning right along with her.

I love you Ella Bell!

I love you "more than the outer spaces". - that is what she says when she tells us she loves us.

Sweet Moments

2011-07-15T19:59:00.000-08:00

She is beginning to have more and more moments of calm when she is awake. And it is nice. Sleep is getting better.

I really hope I am not jinxing myself right now...

5 wks

2011-07-11T21:45:00.000-08:00

This best describe Campbell.

She cries. A lot.

Thankfully, this is not my first crying baby...Ella was worse.

This will pass. It is temporary.

I am glad I know there is an end to all the crying.

Don't you love the tie-dye I am rockin'? Ella and Olivia thought I sewed all the colors together. HA! Then, they got mad, because they thought I broke into our tie-dye kit without them and did a shirt.

Nope, just kickin' it old school...takin' it back to the high school days.

When I told Ella that is was from high school, she said, "Wow, you can still fit into it?"

Thank you Ella for always lifting me up.

Later on she decided to tell me my stretch marks looked funny...

"Be Gentle"

2011-07-10T22:24:00.000-08:00

I wanted to get a few pictures of Campbell in the quilt my grandmother made for her...and I had a little help. Sutton Grace loves her baby, but I am constantly saying "be gentle". She is good most of the time...except when she lays on top of her.

My Cure for Homesickness

2011-07-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

I have been homesick a lot lately...homesick for where I grew up, my family and my friends.

It is hard at times, especially having a newborn, to be so far away from family. Alaska is so different from the south, and I just want a taste of life as I knew it growing up...to show my kids what I did.

But we live here, and we will be making a trip back home soon enough...

So, when I am feeling homesick, the best cure for me is to get out and enjoy outdoor Alaska. I LOVE to be outside and explore new places. Today, we went to a park in south Anchorage...Kincaid Park. It has the largest population of moose in Anchorage...we didn't see any...THANK GOODNESS! I never want to run into one on foot especially with my children with me. We loaded up the girl's bikes and the baby stroller and headed out on a trail.

A trail that was short and dead ended in an overlook.

That is the bay (behind my goofball of a husband, who I love and adore). When you fly into Anchorage, that is what you fly over...the bay...not my goofball.

Sutton Grace was NOT happy about being stuck, as she puts it, in her stroller. And yes, I can understand what she says even with her "pa pa" in her mouth. I speak fluent Sutton.

We found another trail that was down hill, so we put up the bikes and headed down.

Someone made her own trail...since we let her walk, we had to constantly keep her on track. She is VERY stubborn, and it was a little hard to keep her with us.

So...she ended up on my shoulders...which she wasn't happy about.

We turned around and went back towards the car. My wonderful dream of taking a nice family hike through a park was shattered, by "I'm hungry", "There are bugs", "I am tired", etc...

I will tell you, I was sweating carrying a toddler on my shoulders and a baby in my wrap up the hill.

And I might add...I can walk, hike, run anywhere in flip flops.

Even though there was a lot of complaining...I had fun...and for now, I am not as homesick.

1st Day of School

2011-07-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

I Just Said "Yes"

2011-07-02T22:03:00.001-08:00

I know as moms we always feel like we are saying "no". Well, I do at least.

I get that mommy guilt, especially when it is a simple request, but time or circumstances don't allow for it at times.

Shortly after Campbell was born, I seemed to say "no" a lot more.

So, when the girls asked me to build a tent...I said "yes", but truth be told it took me a day to build it. Between feeding and holding a baby...taking care of an immobile husband, 2 dogs and the rest of the kids....meal time...I just forgot about it.

But I did do it, so that night when they asked to sleep in it, I said "yes" again. They were so excited! I mean how could I not say yes? It took me more than a day to build it, and when I did, it was so close to bed time.

They got to sleep in it for 2 nights...it was fun!

I hope to say "Yes" a little more around here.

And by they way, this was taken at midnight....there is a lot of light sun shining in their room.

A Walk in the Woods

2011-06-28T22:56:00.000-08:00

We took a walk in the woods today (which makes me very nervous...why?...oh...the bear...the moose...), and it was lovely! I wanted us to get out and enjoy the "warm" weather. Our summer is so short, and I want to soak up every moment of it.

I dream of living in warmer place where we can get out doors a lot more. I love being outside and so do the kiddos.

So...we walked.

Me and all 4 kiddos!

They enjoyed the freedom to run.

This look says, "I am up to something".

This look says, "Mom, stop telling me to look at the camera. I want to run".

This look says, "Take a picture of me".

By the way, when did she grow up? *tear*

Flowers where picked.

They "entertained" my request for pictures.

And I put their flowers/weeds in a vase.

Me + 3 of My Girls

2011-06-25T22:26:00.000-08:00

It is rare that I get out from behind the camera...but I started thinking...there aren't many pictures of me with my kiddos. So, we got a few shots in.

Apparently, Sutton didn't want her picture taken either... :)

This is another that is hard to get pictures of, but she is coming around.

I don't want them to look back on all these pictures and ask where I was. Why wasn't I having fun with them. Well, I was there...I was the one holding the camera. So, girls, remember that!

This one, however, loves the camera. She poses every time...it is hard to sneak one in of her without her knowing.

Plus...you get to see all the freckles I have on my face. I have a crazy amount this year!

AND I love my freckles...they add character. I am not so sure I will say that when I have wrinkles, though.

"Mine"

2011-06-24T21:02:00.000-08:00

Someone has learned a new word...can you guess who...and what?

Olivia did have it first.

"Sutton Grace give it back."

"Mine!"

And no sooner was this picture taken...

...she had forgotten all about the car.

Beautiful Girls

2011-06-21T21:48:00.000-08:00

Life is still crazy and very unpredictable for now. I am enjoying every minute of it....well I am trying to atleast. Knowing how fast babies grow into big kids, I want to soak up every minute I can of my children. Because one day they will be gone...and they will have babies of their own.

Ella is the perfect big sister to all these girls.

Sutton Grace couldn't sleep last night, so she got to hang with Mommy and Daddy for a little while past bed time.

2 weeks old

...thank you Grandmomma for the blanket. JT said this blanket is his favorite so far.

This little ones loves her animals.

Bath time

2011-06-14T20:44:00.002-08:00

She didn't like it...can you tell??

Campbell's Birth Story

2011-06-13T22:51:00.000-08:00

JT had his surgery and the actual surgery was a success, but pain management was not. His pain spiralled out of control. His heart rate dropped and he would stop breathing. It was a scary time. He ended up staying in the hospital for 3 days.

Well, the night we got home from the hospital, we had to go right back.

I woke up to use the bathroom...totally normal. I haven't had contractions in about a day, and I wasn't having any at the time.

I noticed something in the dark that wasn't right...I was bleeding! It scared me. My first thought lead me back to my miscarriage. All I knew was that I was told to go to labor and delivery if I started bleeding. So I did.

Since I wasn't having contractions and I felt fine, I walked myself to L&D.

My husband however, was being pushed in a wheel chair. We got weird looks, but once we explained, they were sympathetic.

As soon as they hooked me up to monitor the baby's heart beat (which was a welcomed sound to a very scared mother), I started contracting...6 minutes apart...real contractions...ones that really hurt.

One hour later...they were 3 minutes apart and I was near 6 cm.

At 8:41am I delivered my baby!

This one hurt really bad this time. Of course labor hurts (no pain meds here), but she came out face first, and I think my screams scared some of the mom's that we coming in for scheduled inductions. ;)

But she is precious...and I think this is the last time she actually cried. She is a good baby.

Big sisters are in love with her. You wouldn't know it that day, but Campbell is Sutton's baby. She is very possessive over her.

Looking at these pictures, makes me realize how bad my swelling was. I am sure you thought I was going to say blessed I am...well I am...but I was also very swollen in the last few weeks.

That is gone now...but the feeling of being blessed still remains.

Since JT was on orders of bed rest, he did not stay with me in the hospital. So, little lady and I bonded over the next couple days...we spent several hours watch news television...which I completely hate and even more so now.

Since Campbell came out face up and really fast, I tore, so I had to have stitches. The doctor that delivered her also has 4 kids. Do you know what our conversation was about? Washing machines and dryers.

Also, when I was at 8 cm, I was asking myself...why did I want to go natural again...I completely regretted my decision at that point.

Those 2 things were for my memory.

Staring Contest

2011-06-13T21:40:00.000-08:00

At one week (today), Campbell is keeping her eyes open more. Today she stared staring at me and studying my face...scanning across and up and down...as if to say "so that is what you look like". I was staring back saying, "So that is what you look like".

I know in this picture it looks like she has blonde hair, she doesn't. It is brown...for now.

Campbell Rose

2011-06-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

More pics to come...more about her birth to come...life is a little crazy right now.

But she is wonderful and very much loved!